Buffalo Bills: Updated 53-man roster projections after recent moves
Defensive Tackle (5)
Ed Oliver, Harrison Phillips, Quinton Jefferson, Vernon Butler, Vincent Taylor
The defensive tackle is one of the positions with the biggest change from the roster projections at the start of training camp. This was due to the fact that Star Lotulelei had elected to opt out of the upcoming season.
The loss of Lotulelei was certainly a big one for the interior of this defensive line and while he doesn’t rack up stats, he does a lot of the dirty work that allows other players to get to the ball carriers quickly and make plays.
It remains to be seen who is exactly going to replace Lotulelei but it would make sense it will be some combination of Harrison Phillips, Vincent Taylor and even Vernon Butler. This, combined with Jefferson playing both defensive end and tackle, is why the Bills keep five defensive tackles.